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 But the idea was met with mixed reactions. Banharn Silapa-archa, leader of the Chart Thai Party, came out against the idea. Some even went as far as saying that the proposal to bring a major foreign business entity into the backyard of the nation is tantamount to selling our country out to foreigners.

Matichon, in its editorial yesterday, picked up on the topic and expressed its disapproval of the initiative. It said that although rice farming is the main source of income for the majority of the population, most of our farmers live in poverty. We rarely see farmers become rich from farming because most of them have to lease their land. Output depends on an unpredictable factor - the forces of nature. Drought can drastically affect rice output. Besides, Thai farmers have to deal with the burden of the higher cost of fertiliser.

Matichon said Thai farmers are unable to protect their rights. They have always been taken advantage of by middlemen or investors. Rice prices have increased this year, but the benefits didn't go to the majority of farmers.

The paper said that if Saudi investors came to invest in the rice-farming sector in Thailand, without both the public and private sectors being well prepared, Thai farmers would almost certainly be left with only the bones because their benefits would be ripped off by several parties involved. Thai and foreign traders are better equipped to benefit from these farmers.

Finally, Thailand may be touted as one of the largest rice-producing countries, but there will be nothing left to be proud of if we don't have anything to claim as our own for future generations.

Matichon said that before the government starts to rely on foreign investors - especially those from the oil-rich Saudi Arabia - to bring prosperity to the nation, the Agriculture Ministry should instead seriously enhance the capabilities of Thai formers so they can transform Thailand into the world's centre of food. For instance, the government should help farmers by providing them with facilities, such as warehouses to collect produce so that farmers don't have to rush selling their produce at low prices to middlemen.

People in power should realise this and should serve the interests of the majority of the people instead of succumbing to foreigners' interests.

Mass circulation paper Thai Rath again reaffirmed its disapproving stance toward the plan to amend the Constitution. With an editorial titled, "The war of the political party nominees", Thai Rath said that although the constitutional amendments are expected, the movement to change the charter came sooner than some had anticipated.

"Nobody had expected the movement to come so fast and be so explicit without hiding the fact that the amendments were meant to serve the party's interest and to whitewash the legal cases for the 'big boss'", the paper said.

Thai Rath said that the People Power Party's main intention in amending the Constitution was to change Article 237 and improve the image of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and others under investigation by the Assets Examination Commission. But they instead chose to overhaul the 2007 Constitution under the pretext that the proposed amendments will promote democracy, even though they would lessen the level of public participation.

Thai Rath said that one issue that can confirm  the amendments are meant to serve self-interests was the question of the validity of independent agencies, such as the Election Commission and the National Counter Corruption Commission, set up under the 2007 Constitution.

Thai Rath added that if these independent agencies are forced to disband and reform, it would pave the way for interference with the independent agencies for the benefit of the current House and the government.

However, some elected politicians have both refused to listen to public criticism and take into consideration the adverse effect of the amendments on the country. They decided instead to go ahead with the overhaul of the Constitution.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej thus floated the idea of holding a referendum on the proposed changes.

Thai Rath said that the referendum may help lessen criticisms and social divisions caused by the proposed amendments, but the question is whether the referendum will be held now that the conflict has been exacerbated into a war of nominees between the prime minister, the House Speaker and the majority of People Power Party MPs. This will test the power of the "real" boss of the People Power Party with that of its "nominee leader". Let's see whether Prime Minister Samak will be able to hold the referendum.